STTR Phase I: Controlled Energy Storage and Release in an Intelligent Prosthetic Foot

这个小型企业技术转移（STTR）项目的第一阶段是开发一种智能假肢足，减少截肢者行走时的能量消耗。商业假体使用被动机制提供关节、缓冲脚跟冲击和弹性能量返回；然而，截肢者行走的能量消耗很高。目前最复杂的假肢是智能膝盖，它通过主动控制膝盖的制动来改善步态。根据最近的实验室结果，智能假肢公司提出，控制能量储存和释放可以显著提高假肢脚的效率。就像目前的产品一样，这种脚在触地后会储存弹性能量。然而，主动控制不是自发地返回能量，而是通过锁存机制捕获能量，并在随后的步态周期中释放能量，与健全的行走的推离阶段相一致。该装置将由微处理器控制，主要需要电池供电来驱动闩锁。本项目第一阶段将开发一个假肢原型，并通过实验测试智能控制能量释放的概念可行性。该项目打算将这一概念发展成一种商业假肢，比传统设计具有更大的能量回报和舒适度，包装紧凑，重量轻。控制能量释放技术主要用于假肢足市场。然而，这些科学发现也可以应用于其他残疾人的矫形器或康复技术，比如中风和脑瘫患者。类似的技术可以应用于从运动中收集能量，比如为可穿戴电子设备提供动力，或者更长期的应用，比如为放大人类表现而提供动力的外骨骼。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to develop an intelligent prosthetic foot that reduces the energy consumption of walking in amputees. Commercial prostheses use passive mechanisms to provide articulation, cushioning against heel impact, and elastic energy return; yet the energetic cost of amputee walking is high. Currently the most sophisticated prostheses are intelligent knees, which improve gait by actively controlling braking of the knee. Based on recent laboratory results, Intelligent Prosthetics proposes that controlled energy storage and release could significantly improve the efficiency of a prosthetic foot. Such a foot would store elastic energy after the foot strikes the ground, as in current products. Instead of returning energy spontaneously, however, active control would capture that energy with a latch mechanism and release it later in the gait cycle, coinciding with the push-off phase of able-bodied walking. The mechanism will be microprocessor-controlled and will require battery power mainly to actuate a latch. Phase I of this project will develop a prototype prosthesis, and experimentally test the conceptual feasibility of intelligently controlled energy release. The project intends to develop this concept into a commercial prosthesis with greater energy return and comfort than conventional designs, in a compact and lightweight package.The technology of controlled energy release is intended primarily for the prosthetic foot market. However, the scientific findings could also apply to orthoses or rehabilitation technology for other disabled individuals, such as stroke and cerebral palsy patients. Similar technology could be applied to energy harvesting from locomotion, such as to power wearable electronic devices or more long-term applications such as powered exoskeletons for amplifying human performance.